Reopening FAQs
Hello CFW Community,
We have been open for a week now and it has been great to have the opportunity to connect with so many of you. The open gym format really allows the coaches to have time to work 1-on-1 with every member. Although many of you have expressed what a positive impact this has had already, we have received a couple questions from concerned members with regard to our reopening under the Ontario Disabilities Act.
We know there may be others of you with questions, so we wanted to address a few FAQs.
Does the announcement from April 16 change anything at CFW?
No, it does not. We are still able to be open under the same regulations, with the same capacity and an open gym format.
Has CFW been in contact with anyone from the medical community about reopening?
We have several highly educated people in our CFW community that are in the medical world: doctors, nurses, various health practitioners, social workers, and even vaccine experts who have all commended us for staying open the right way and for fighting for the health of the members who need it most. Almost all of these people have also reached out saying that the measures we are taking at CFW are indeed providing a safe and clean environment during this time. All our safety measures not only comply with public health’s orders but go above and beyond their guidelines.
We know that CFW being closed is hurting the health of our community and this is a time when health is what is needed most. We have seen with our own eyes the mental and physical toll that the lockdowns and closures have had on our members. We have had private conversations with members about depression and suicidal thoughts, weight gain and the associated health risks/markers, loss of function for people who really need it to live a ‘normal’ life, alcoholism/drug abuse ruining the lives of not only the abuser but their families as well, and much more. These are all things we are helping people fight against daily and we hope you all agree these are some pretty serious matters. We must address the physical and mental health needs of our community and do everything we can to help people whose health is deteriorating.
The use of Train Heroic and working out at home has worked in the past why change that now?
Although the online system is working for some, it is clearly not working for all. Some examples of conversations we have had with members indicating this were mentioned above.
During the previous lockdowns, prior to February 8, 2021, we had no option to remain open. We brought our community together online through our TrainHeroic platform and definitely saw great benefit in this. However, we know many CFW members still suffered greatly at this time. On February 8, 2021, the Ontario government created a third clause allowing gyms and fitness facilities to remain open during lockdowns, if they met the needs of those with disabilities. This was not available to us previously otherwise we would have taken these steps before now.
Is it right for CFW to be reopening and asking members to get a note from their doctor saying they are disabled?
We are staying open for people who need it and we are not asking members to falsify a claim about their abilities. If you don’t need to return to CFW right now, then we hope the online services we created previously are helping you stay healthy. However, if your health is going in the wrong direction, then you may want to consider speaking to a health practitioner and it would be up to their discretion to give you the green light to return.
CFW’s services and community are helping our members combat their health issues with many being very serious/life -threatening. Please reach out to your health care practitioner if you are experiencing ongoing and/or increasing anxiety or depressive thoughts, if you have gained weight and are feeling the effects on your overall health, if you have increased your consumption of substances to combat stress or if you have lost mobility or the ability to accomplish your daily tasks such as going up and down stairs without pain, picking up a small child or getting up off the floor if you fall. Each one of these is a reason to seek support and help. CFW is proud to be able to support and help our members.
In addition, here are some articles that have helped us learn even more about the necessity of exercise to maintain overall health and fight diseases/disabilities.
1) Weightlifting Depression Anxiety Help
2) Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training With Depressive Symptoms
3) Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training With Anxiety
As well, here is an article from Kitchener CTV news, featuring other local fitness facilities who have also reopened under the same regulations.
At CFW we are a community, and we are in this together. If you have a friend at CFW who is struggling, consider signing up for the same open gym time slot and help restore their health and wellbeing by showing up for each other.
Your feedback is important to us so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns or if there is anything else you would like to share with us.
Let’s stay together in the pursuit of health!
The CFW Team